Bowling pin



United States Patent O 3,237,945 BWMNG PIN Sampson Isenberg, Albert E.Shaw, and Robert E. Moon, Chicago, lill., assignors to BrunswickCorporation, a corporation of Delaware Filed Dec. 29, 1960, Ser. No.79,399 22 Claims. (Cl. 273-82) This invention relates to bowling pins,and more particularly to a bowling pin having magnetic propertiescapable of detection by pin detecting `apparatus for distinguishingbetween standing pins and fallen pins to actuate an indicating means forapprising bowlers or spectators of the results of a ball thrown in abowling game. The magnetic properties are provided without materiallyaltering the pin quality or pin action and without deviating materiallyfrom commonly accepted pin standards.

It is a general object of the invention to provide a new and improvedpin of the type described.

ln the past, pin detection apparatus has been provided in the form ofpin detecting means associated with a pinsetter deck for cooperationwith the heads of standing pins and also in the form of pin detectingmeans associated with the alley or bed on which the pins stand. ln thecase of pin detecting means associated with pinsetters for cooperationwith the heads of standing pins, there is the disadvantage that pindetection usually depends upon a lowering of a pinsetter deck intoproximity with the heads of standing pins in order to determine thepresence or absence of the pins. This mode of operation requires thatthe pinsetter deck be lowered after each ball is rolled if pins are tobe detected after each ball, while the lowering of the deck after thesecond ball may not be necessary to the pinsetting function. Thus, thelowering of the deck after the second ball is a time consuming andwearing operation.

In the case of pin detecting means associated with the alley or the bedon which the pins stand, magnetically or mechanically operated switcheshave usually been provided for `actuation by the bases of the pins toindicate the presence or absence of pins. In the case of magneticallyoperated switches, this has usually involved the use of pins whichinclude heavy metallic slugs of ferromagnetic material which materiallyalter the weight of the pins, the weight distribution and the pinaction. In the case of mechanically operated switches, in order to beappropriately sensitive, such switches have been necessarily somewhatfragile in construction and difficult to maintain in an operativecondition providing a high degree of accuracy.

According to the present invention, a pin is provided which eliminatesthe necessity of detecting pins by means associated with the pinsetterdeck and enables the use of pin detection means in or under the alley orbed on which the pins stand. At the same time, the need for magneticallyor mechanically operated switches is obviated and the pin constructiondoes not depart materially from standards usually acceptable to theAmerican Bowling Congress relating to materials, weight and pin action.In a preferred form, the pin base is provided with a predeterminedrelatively minute quantity of a pararnagnetic material capable ofaltering a state of balance in an electrical detection apparatus toenable the apparatus to distinguish between a standing pin and a fallenpin or the absence of a pin.

The term paramagnetic is used herein to describe a material having amagnetic permeability greater than unity, as opposed to diamagnetic, andas distinguished from ferromagnetic, that is, magnetic in a high degree,like iron, nickel and cobalt. Whereas iron may have a Patented Mar.. l,i966 JCC Permeability of 6,000 to 8,000, nickel may have a permeabilityof 400 to 1000 and cobalt may have a permeability on the order of 170,the materials contemplated in the present invention may have apermeability on the order of 5 to 20. The preferred materials arerionmetallic in the common sense of the word, `as well as paramagnetic,and thus do not involve an objectionable use of metal in pins ascontemplated in the past for some pin detection apparatuses either forthe purpose of providing magnetic slugs or for the purpose of providingcircuit making portions in the pins.

Minute quantities of paramagnetic material are sufficient and in apreferred form of the invention, less than one ounce of the material hasprovided excellent results. The material is preferably utilized in theform of minute particles evenly distributed concentrically about theaxis of the pin in the base portion of the pin adjacent the lower endthereof. The material may be conveniently provided in the pin in theform of particles encapsulated in a plastic ring embedded in the pinbase. The plastic, with particles of the paramagnetic material therein,may be molded in ring form or in strip form cut to proper length androlled into ring form. The plastic ring may be retained in the pin basein any suitable manner, as by a tight lit, by adhesive means or byretention by a wear and impact resistant plastic ring, such as nylon,frequently provided nowadays at the base of wooden pins or plasticcoated wooden pins. I

Fcrrite is particularly suitable in the present invention, and excellentresults have been obtained with magnetite, which has the formulaFeOFe2O3, and magneto-ferrites, including PbG-BaOBFeZOS and2PbOSrO5Fe2O3- The latter compounds are of the magnetoferrite typerepresented by the general formula XMO-YFe2O3, where M represents thealkali earth group and/ or lead, and X and Y may be any numbers.Chemically, these are all salts.

Several plastic vehicles are suitable for carrying the magneticmaterial, such as vinyl, rubber, .silicone rubber and epoxy. An epoxymodified with vinyl has given excellent results as it allows aconcentration of ferrite greater than to 90% and still retainssatisfactory ilexibility, strength and ruggedness needed for the insert.ln a preferred form, the ring insert has a thickness of about 332", aheight of about 5%, and is disposed approximately 1/. above the bottomsurface of the pin. A ring of these dimensions weighs approximately onlyone ounce and may contain approximately 85% ferrite by weight and 15%epoxy resin. lt should be understood that while certain values are givenfor permeability and quantity of material as providing satisfactoryresults, these may be varied while still producing the necessaryfunctions. For example, a material of greater permeability may beutilized in lesser quantity or a material of lesser permeability may beutilized in greater quantity.

With a pin construction of the type described, utilizing a concentricring of plastic carrying the magnetic material, the magnetic propertiesare such that a pin detection means in or under the alley is capable ofdistinguishing a lirst condition in which a pin is standing and a secondin which the pin is fallen or completely removed. Pin detection means,such as that disclosed in our copending application Serial No. 23,092,tiled April 18, 1960, now Patent No. 3,093,375, are capable of detectingstanding pins of the type described at each of the pin spots whether thepins are standing on spot or off spot in predetermined areas immediatelysurrounding the pin spots. When a pin is standing, the entire plasticring carrying the paramagnetic material is equally spaced from thesurface of the alley and provides a path for magnetic flux. On the otherhand, when the pin is completely removed, the absence of thepararnagnetie material s detectable, or when the pin has fallen theportion of paramagnetic material immediately adjacent the alley isinsufficient to indicate the presence of a standing pin.

Other objects and advantages will become readily apparent from thefollowing detailed description taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a ten pin embodying the principles ofthe present invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary enlarged vertical sectional view taken on theaxis of the pin illustrated in FIG. 1 along line 2-2;

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view taken at about the line 3 3 of FIG. 2;and

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken at about the line4 4 of FIG. 3.

While an illustrative embodiment of the invention is shown in thedrawings and will be described in detail herein, the invention iscapable of embodiment in many different forms, and it should beunderstood that the present disclosure is to be considered as anexemplification f the principles of the invention and is not intended tolimit the invention to the specific embodiment or materials disclosed.The scope of the invention will be pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings in more detail, these illustrate a ten pincomprised of an elongate main body including a head portion 16, a neckportion 17, an enlarged belly portion 18, and a base portion 19. Pins ofthis type are usually made of wood, and painted or frequently coveredwith a coating of plastic, though the entire pin body may be of plasticif desired. The base 19 includes a reduced lower end portion 22 and aconcentric annular groove 23. A wear and impact resistant plastic ring24, of material such as nylon, includes an upstanding locking ring as at25 inserted in the groove 23, a bottom surface 26 substantially flushwith the bottom surface of the reduced portion 22, and a side surface 27fiush with the side surface of the base portion of the pin. The ring 24may be retained in place on the pin by adhesive means or by interlockaccording to the principles set forth in the Berry et al. applicationSerial No. 715,110, filed February 13, 1958, now Patent No. 2,964,319,assigned to the assignee of this application.

While the preferred form of the invention utilizes a ring as illustratedat 24, it should be understood that this could be varied or that thering may be omitted entirely, if desired.

In the preferred form illustrated, the ring 24 is provided with aninternal annular, upwardly facing shoulder as at 30 for supporting aring 35 of dielectric plastic material carrying paramagnetic material asdescribed hereinabove. The ring is preferably molded originally in stripform, and rolled into ring form with the ends meeting as at 36. It maybe adhesively secured to the ring 24 as at 37. The ring 35 is surroundedon all four sides, on two sides by the nylon ring 24 and on two sides bythe wood of the pin body, and is thus protected from damage anddestruction, so that there is no loss of the detectable material. In thepreferred embodiment illustrated, the ring 1s 3;@2" thick and Ss" high,and is positioned 1A above the bottom surface of the pin.

The ring 3S illustrated is preferably comprised of an epoxy modifiedwith vinyl and contains microscopic particles of ferrite encapsulatedtherein. The ring weighs less than one ounce and contains 84% ferrite byweight. The ring weighs so little as compared to the weight of the pinthat the over-all physical properties of the pin are substantiallyunaffected. Weight distribution and pin action are not altered. The ringis electrically nonconductive, and nonmetallic in the common sense ofthe word, but it possesses magnetic properties capable of detection byvirtue of the paramagnetic area provided by the ferrite. While apreferred form of plastic ring is illustrated, this may be varied.Generally, a relatively thin and tall ring provides a greaterdifferentation in signals from standing pins and fallen pins than arelatively thick and short ring. In the preferred form illustrated, thering is raised from the bottom of the pin and completely surrounded sothat in use there will be no loss of detectable material which wouldalter the detectable properties of the pin. The spacing of the magneticmaterial from the bottom surface of the pin is not objectionable as inthe case where the pin is intended to be magnetically attractive to amagnet so that one holds the other.

We claim:

1. A bowling pin, comprising, an elongate main body including a baseportion having a flattened lower end for supporting the pin in standingposition, and a quantity of a pararnagnetic nonmetal in said bodyadjacent one end thereof and having magnetic properties capable ofdetection by pin detecting apparatus.

2. A Ibowling pin as defined in claim 1, wherein said paramagneticmaterial has a magnetic permeability of approximately 10.

3. A bowling pin as defined in claim 1 wherein said paramagneticmaterial weighs approximately one ounce.

4. A bowling pin as defined in claim 1, wherein said paramagneticmaterial is evenly distributed concentrically around the axis of thepin.

5. A bowling pin as defined in claim 1, wherein said paramagneticmaterial is a ferrite.

6. A bowling pin as defined in claim 1, wherein said paramagneticmaterial is magnetite.

7. A bowling pin, comprising, an electrically nonconductive main bodyincluding a base portion having a flattened lower end for supporting thepin in standing position, and a minute quantity of a paramagneticnonmetal in the base portion adjacent the lower end and having magneticproperties capable of detection by pin detecting apparatus, saidparamagnetic material having a magnetic permeability of approximately 8to l0.

8. A bowling pin, comprising, an electrically nonconductive main body.including a base portion having a flattened lower end for supportingthe pin in standing position, and .approximately one ounce of aparamagnetic salt in the base portion adjacent the lower end and havingmagnetic properties capable of detection by pin detecting apparatus.

9. A bowling pin as defined in claim 8, wherein said paramagneticmaterial has a magnetic permeability of approximately 10.

10. A bowling pin as defined in claim 9 wherein the paramagneticmaterial comprises minute particles arranged in a concentric ring aroundthe axis of the pin.

11. A bowling pin as defined in claim 10 wherein the paramagneticmaterial is a ferrite.

12. A bowling pin, comprising, a main body including a base portionhaving a flattened lower end for supporting the pin in standingposition, and a predetermined quantity of minute particles of ferritedisposed concentrically around the pin axis in the base portion adjacentthe lower end for detection by a pin sensing apparatus.

13. A bowling pin as defined in claim 12, wherein the ferrite ismagnetite.

14. A bowling pin as defined in claim 12, wherein the ferrite is amagneto-ferrite.

15. A bowling pin as defined in claim 14, wherein the magneto-ferritehas the general formula XMO-YFe2O3, where M is selected from the classconsisting of the alkali earth group and lead, and X and Y may be anypositive numbers.

16. A bowling pin as defined in claim 15, wherein the lmagneto-ferriteis PbO-BaO-3Fe203.

17. A bowling pin as defined in claim 15 wherein the magneto-ferrite is2PbO -SrO 5Fe203.

18. A bowling pin, comprising, an elongate electrically nonconductivemain body including a base portion having a fiattened lower end forsupporting the pin in standing position, a ring of plastic materialcarried by the base portion adjacent the lower end thereof, and

minute particles of a paramagnetic salt embedded in the ring providing apararnagnetic area for detection by a pin sensing apparatus when the pinis standing.

19. A bowling pin, comprising, an elongate electri- Ically nonconductivebody including a base portion having a ilat lower end for supporting thepin in standing position on an alley, a dielectric ring of plasticmaterial embedded in the base portion and surrounded at least at thetop, radially inner and radially outer sides thereof by the bodymaterial for protection against wear and impact and approximately oneounce of minute particles of ferrite encapsulated in the plastic ringproviding a paramagnetic area for detection by a pin sensing apparatus.

20. A bowling pin, comprising, an elongate main body of electricallynonconductive material including a base having a reduced lower portionterminating in a flat lower end, a wear and impact resistant annula-rplastic insert around said reduced lower portion including a bottomsur-face substantially flush with said flat lower end and a side surfaceush with the side surface of the main body, said insert having anupstanding locking ring in a groove in the main body and an innerannular upwardly facing shoulder, and a plastic ring on said shoulderhaving approximately one ounce of minute particles of ferrite er1-capsulated therein to provide a pararnagnetic area for detection by apin sensing apparatus.

21. A bowling pin, comprising, an elongate body of dielectric,nonmagnetic material including a base portion having a attened lower endsurface for supporting the pin in standing position, and a plastic ringcompletely embedded in the base portion concentric with the pin axisincluding a quantity of an evenly distributed powdered paramagneticnonmetal displaced -from the lower end surface of the .body to provide aparamagnetic area for detection by a pin sensing apparatus.

22. A bowling pin as dened in claim 1 wherein said pararnagneticmaterial is a magneto-ferrite.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,575,099 11/1951Crowley 252-625 2,600,951 6/1952 Edwards 273-1 2,848,235 8/1958 Johns etal. 273-82 2,973,206 2/ 1961 Sanders 273-82 2,980,425 4/ 1961 Zaander273-82 3,073,597 l/1963 Ernst 273-82 RICHARD C. PINKHAM, PrimaryExaminer.

DELBERT B. LOWE, Examiner.

1. A BOWLING PIN, COMPRISING, AN ELONGATED MAIN BODY INCLUDING A BASEPORTION HAVING A FLATTENED LOWER END FOR SUPPORTING THE PIN IN STANDINGPOSITION, AND A QUANTITY OF A PARAMAGNETIC NONMETAL IN SAID BODYADJACENT ONE END THEREOF AND HAVING MAGNETIC PROPERTIES CAPABLE OFDETECTION BY PIN DETECTING APPARATUS.